Second-half run falls for short for USI women, who lose at Indianapolis

Not even a pair of double-doubles could save the University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team on Thursday night.

Despite tying the score 11 minutes into the second half, the Eagles never got the lead and eventually lost 70-66 at the University of Indianapolis.

USI's Anna Hackert and Mary O'Keefe combined for 43 points and 20 rebounds. But the Eagles shot poorly most of the game, averaging just 31.7 percent (20-for-63) from the field.

"Basketball is a game of runs, and (UIndy) had too many sustained runs," said USI coach Rick Stein, whose team lost its second in a row and dropped to 16-6 overall, including 8-6 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. "I thought our effort was good; our team's resolve was strong. We were in there and in the hunt and not backing down.

"But in a game like that, every mistake you make — that one mistake can cost you the game."

After trailing by five points at the intermission, USI gradually rallied in the second half to tie the score at 53-53 on a pair of baskets from Hackert, who finished with 27 points and 10 rebounds. But Katy McIntosh buried a 3-pointer to put the Greyhounds (16-6, 9-5) back on top for good, at 56-55.

The Eagles pulled within a point twice after that but couldn't go in front.

Later, they trailed 67-64 and had possession, but point guard Ariel Barnes missed a 16-foot shot with 33 seconds left in the game. UIndy got the rebound and then sank two free throws with 19.2 seconds left to give it an almost insurmountable five-point lead.

"I think it was a best-shot-available situation," Stein said of Barnes' attempt. "There was still plenty of time left. We were just trying to run our offense and get a good shot. I thought we did with Ariel's shot.

"It was one possession, but it didn't mean anything more than any of the possessions in the first half."

Barnes finished the game with six points and six assists. O'Keefe tallied 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Taylor Stevenson totaled 10 points.

Djana Jovanovic scored a career-high 19 points to pace the Greyhounds. McIntosh contributed 17 points despite 5-for-15 shooting while Kristin Turner — who went just 6-for-19 from the field, including 1-for-11 from 3-point range — finished with 13 points.

USI plays again Saturday at Saint Joseph's College, tipping off at 3:15 CST.